Well here we are... With just over a week until Christmas, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on what this time of year means to me. I love Christmas! I love the lights, the food, the gathering of friends & family, and I love the music! Some of my fondest childhood memories come flowing back to mind when I hear songs like "O Holy Night" or "Go Tell It On The Mountain." I also enjoy getting to introduce NEW Christmas music into the mix. This year, I wrote a new song called "Let Us Come, Let Us Go" that I will be singing at various events and I just released a fun new single called, "Baby It's Christmas!" for download on iTunes. I am humbled by the sweet response to these new tunes from many of you! Christmas music is a big deal in the Hartley house. Amy and I have to try hard to hold back from playing holiday tunes too early! It is especially fun getting to teach these epic songs to our children...and hearing them humming them in the hallway at random times! I loved Christmas as a child but I REALLY love celebrating it as a husband and father! It is such an awesome honor to sit down with our kids and tell them of the true story of the Messiah coming to earth as a baby many years ago to save us from our sin. I wouldn't trade this for anything!! The Christmas season can be bittersweet. It is a time of reflection on the past year and it is a time of remembering those loved ones who have passed on. For some, this is a happy time. For others, it is a struggle to make it through to January. Regardless of where you are in all of this, let me offer some encouragement. Christmas is a time of hope. This is because Christmas is all about Jesus. He came so that we could have an undeserved gift of eternal salvation. This is a gift that no one can ever take away from us! If you build your Christmas around people or things, you will be disappointed! If you build your Christmas around Christ, you will experience His hope that lasts long after December. My prayer is that you all can know the Savior personally in this way! God Bless & Merry Christmas from Neal, Amy, Will, Addie, and Baby Nate!
1 Comment
12/16/2013 07:59:05 am
What a sweet family. Merry Christmas to you and yours. May God be especially close to you during this special time, HIS time of year!
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